Conveyer.



M. U. BERNHEIM.

CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1. 1918.

' um/boa Mbrris flfiermaeim Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET L.

M. U. BERNHEIM CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1. 19m

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Z O t M Q 0 m a )forris Vernim,

M. U. BERNHEIM.

- CONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. L918 1 ,300,38 1 0 Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- OFFICE.

MORRIS U. BERNHEIM, or CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE ALvEY-rEReUs oN COMPANY, or OAKLEY, CINCINNATI, .OHIO, A CORPORATION or 01110.

CONVEYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed October 7, 1918. Serial No. 257,264.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, MORRIS U. BERNHEIM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention particularly relates to a conveying mechanism including traveling holders (hereinafter called containers) of i kind appropriate to the particular article or thing to be conveyed and means by which these containers may be started from one or more sending stations and be automatically conducted to and deposited upon receiving beds predetermined to receive the same, respectively. Mechanism of this nature may be usefully employed in the handling of mail in post oflices, or for handling parcels or other matter in stores, for ex ample, and it should be understood at the outset that the number .andarrangements of stations and the size, shape, number and detail construction of the containers will be such as to accord with'the particular purposes and requirements in view, and as these may vary in different installations, the particular embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing and hereinafter described in detail should be regarded as being merely exemplary. I

- In any embodiment of the present invention I regard it as being important to'provide a traveling carrier and a container to be transported thereby, with connecting devices of such construction that they may be readily and automatically disengaged from each other by elements respectively related to the container and receiving station, said elements co-acting to release the container from the carrier in such proximity to the receiving station that it may be deposited upon said station, by gravity for instance, and to provide for relative adjustment of said co-acting elements of the several containers and several receiving stations to the end that each container while primarily adapted to be deposited upon any of the receiving stations will be selectively deposited upon the particular station predetermined to receive the same. by proper adjustment of the selecting element of the container with reference to the position of the corre sponding element of the particular receiving station by which it is to be engaged.

The adjustable elements of what might be termed the selecting mechanism, to which reference has just been made, are those elements which move with the containers respectively, and I have, as a further feature of the invention, devised a very advantageous construction by which said elements may be easily adjusted and will be effectively maintained in their adjusted position. In conjunction therewith I use suitable stops, as the elements to be engaged by said adjustable elements, and fix the said stops respectively in positions which accord with the various positions of the adjustable elements.

Each of the receiving beds which I preferably employ as a part of my mechanism gravity thereover to the persons who are to handle the contents of said containers, or to permit a number of containers to accumu late if desired, each moving as soon as deposited so as to afford space for another; and it is apparent that such beds may be of any desired length and may embody one or more curves in order that the persons who are to handle the contents of the containers may be disposed in the most convenient locations.

The carriers which I employ are preferably two-wheeled trucks driven by an external source of power, as an endless cable, for example.

I have thus set forth some of the more important features of "the invention and others will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention. It will be seen, therefore, that the invention consists in certain peculiarities in the construction of parts and in certain novel combinations and correlations. of elements substantially as described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation showing a plurality of carriers, containers, receiving stations and adjunctive devices embodying the present improvements.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an elevation on a larger scale placesbetween its ends, showing the two opposite ends of the mechanism and a receiving station, carrier and container.

11 and 12 are rails of an elevated track which may be of any length and may extend variously to suit the requirements of individual. installations. These rails are preferably of angle formation as shown,

having horizontal members to support the wheeled carriers C and vertical members to guide said carriers and constitute means by which the rails may be secured to the means by which they are supported in elevated position. This means comprises a series of posts A arranged] at suitable intervals and provided with arms A which extend across the track, above the same, and have depending members 13 and 14: to which the rails are suitably secured.

B designate the receiving stations. There may be any number of these receiving stations and they may be arranged at any desired places beneath the track. The members 13 and 14 adjacent to the receiving stations are prolonged below the track sufficient to carry stops 15 and 16 which constitute elementsof the selecting mechanism at each receivingstation. These elements at the several receiving stations are arranged at different distances from the lower side of the track, as shown in Fig. 1.

C designate the travelin carriers. Ther may be any suitable num er of these carriers. Each preferably comprises a twowheeled truck having an arm 17 which extends downward through the space between the rails llrand 12 and is secured in any suitabl manrier to an endless cable D, or other suitable element, by which the several carriers are driven. In the construction here shown, the cable extends through an opening 17 in each 'arm and this opening is so formed that its wall may grip or clamp the cable tightly. At the lower end of the arm there is a hook-shaped member 18 to engage a corresponding member 19 which travels with the container E. It will be apparent that there may be any suitable numbcr of these containers and that their size and form may vary to accord with the character of the matter which they are intended to convey. In short any form suitable to support the matter to be conveyed while in transit and capable of discharging the matter when tilted will constitute a container within the meaning and spirit herein intended.

The containers E here shown are of tray or basket shape, closed atthe bottom and sides and open at the top. Each of the containers here shown has at one end a supporting member which comprises an arm 20 which rises therefrom and an arm 20 which extends from the upper end of the arm 20 back over the container to a place substantially in line with the center of the latter. These arms are preferably T-shaped in cross section. The member 19 may be formed at thefree end of the arm 20'f by bending the web of the latter into hook-form, the web at this place being for such purpose preferably made of greater width or dept-h than the remaining portion of the arm to enable the hook to extend from the plane of the edge of the latter as indicated in the drawings. Thus each container is suspended in a. well balanced condition from its carrier by an economically produced means which permits it to be readily engaged with the carrier at a sending station and detached therefrom at a receiving station.

In order that the disengaging of the several containers from their carriers may be selectively efi'ected at the receiving stations predetermined therefor, respectively, each arm 20 is provided with an element 21 to engage the stationary elements 15 and 16 and said element 21 is adjustable upon the arm so that it may be set to engage particular elements 15 and 16 and pass by the others. The elements 15 and 16 at each receiving station. are preferably lugs which project toward each other from the lower ends of the members 13 and 14; and are formed separately from said members. The co-acting element 21 of each selecting mechanism, here shown, projects laterally from opposite sides of the arm 20, so that when set along the arm at a place which causes it to travel in line with any pair of elements 15 and 16 it will be engaged by the latter on opposite sides of the arm 20, while it will pass above or below, other pairs of said elements, the arms 20 in all cases passing between the elements 15 and 16. Eachelement 21, as shown best in Fig. 4, is preferably composed of two jaws 21 and 21 jointed together at 21 and spaced to grip the body and head of the arm 20, said aws being pressed toward each other by a spring 21 and terminating in handles 21 which when pressed toward each other release the jaws from the arm 20 to permit the element 21 to be adjusted upon said arm.

For convenience in determining the positions at which the several elements 21 should be set to engage particular pairs of elements 15 and 16. it is preferred in practice to give each receiving station B a particular designation and to mark these several designations upon the arm 20 of each container in proper position with relation to the several pairs ofel'ements 15 and 16. This is exemplified by the numbers 1 to 5, inclusive, upon the arms 20, it being assumed that there are five receiving stations.

' Each receiving station comprises longitudinal frame members 22 and 23 which are of any suitable length and may extend in any suitable direction and may include one or more curves as shown. Each frame supports a series of freely rotatable rollers 24 which are journaled in its side members and are arranged in a downwardly inclined relation to constitute a conveyer over which the containers which have beendisengaged from the carriers will automatically travel, by gravity. It will be noted that the receiving end ofeach receiving station has its rollers in such proximity to the lower ends of the.

containers that those containers which have been disengaged from the carriers will be deposited, by gravity, for example, upon the rollers without substantial shock; and. in order to assure a proper disposition of the containers upon the rollers, the frame of each receiving station preferably has its receiving end provided with guards 25 and 26 which extend somewhat diagonally toward each other to form a gradually constricting mouth, and each of these guards is arranged with one of its ends only, in a plane somewhat higher than that of the bottoms of the containers. They thus center the detached containers with reference to the rollers even though the containers are swinging when they reach the guards without interfering with the movement of containers which havenot been detached from the carriers, even when the gravity conveyer is curved and extends across the path of travel of the container, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be apparent that containers with their adjustable selecting elements properly set may by an attendant be quickly attached to any one of the trucks or carriers at the sending station and will be conveyed thence 'to the predetermined receiving station, where it will be automatically detached from the truck or carrier, the latter immediately travcling back to the sending station to receive another container and the detached container traveling upon the bed of the receiving station to the place destined therefor. Suitable provision, not necessary herein particularly to set forth as it may vary in different installations and is not an essential part of the present mechanism, may be made for the returnof the empty containers to the sending station.

The endless cable D by which the several trucks or carriers are propelled passes over a driving wheel or pulley G and an idler wheel or pulley H arranged at the opposite ends of its course. The idler wheel or pulley H has its shaft 30 mounted in a bear- 32 and 33 and said bearing is provided with an adjustin shaft 34 whereby it may be adjusted to ta e u slack in the cable. In the herein exemplified form of the invention, the shaft has one of its ends-suitably connected to the bearing and has threaded engagement with a fixed nut at 35 and outside the nut is provided with a hand Wheel 36 for convenience in turning it.

.Each containerE is preferably provided interiorly with a slide 37 which may be moved back and forth therein to hold mat-f claim is:

Y 1. A conveyer comprising a plurality of traveling carriers, a plurality of containers, means for suspending the containers from the carriers, respectivel each includingcooperating elements on t e container and carrier constructed to .be freely released from each other when the container is stopped and the carrier allowed to proceed, to there- :by detach the container from the carrier, and means for stopping the containers selectively at predetermined stations, including stops arranged variously at the stations respectively and elements cooperating. with the sto s and movable with the containers and ad]ustable with relation to the stops, to be en aged by the latter or to pass the same according to the positions to which they have been adjusted, respectively.

2. A conveyer comprising a plurality of traveling carriers, each having a depending hook, a plurality of containers each having an arm provided with a hook to engage the hook of a carrier, said hooks being arranged to be freely disconnected from each other when the container is stopped and the carrier allowed to proceed, to thereby detach the container from the carrier, and means for stopping the containers selectively at predetermined stations including stops arranged at different heights at the stations respectively and elements cooperating with the stops and mounted adjustably on said arms, to be engaged by the stops or to pass the same according to the position to which they have been ad usted, respectively.

3. In a conveyer, the combination of a traveling carrier, a container having an arm provided with means for detachably sus- I pending the container from the carrier, said means being formed of elements which are disconnected from each other by stopping the container and allowing the carrier .to proceed, and means for stopping the container to thereby detach the container from the carrier at a selected station, comprising a stop at said station and an element mounted on the arm of the-carrier and adjustable along said arm into or out of operative relation with the stop.

4. In a conveyer, the combination with a track and a traveling propelling means, of a wheeled carrier which travels on the track and is provided with means to engage the propelling means, to-receive motion therefrom, 'said carrier also having a hook, a container having a hook to engage thehook of the carrier, said hooks being arranged to be disconnected from each other by stopping the container and allowing the carrier to proceed, and means for stopping the container to thereby detach the container from the carrier at a selected station, comprising astop at said station and an element movable with the container and adjustable into or out of operative relation with the stop.

5. In a conveyer, the combination of a traveling carrier, a container having an arm provided with means for detachably suspending the container from the carrier, said arm being substantially T-shaped in cross section and provided with an element comprisin a pair of jointed jaws having means where y they grasp the body and head of the arm and may be released from the arm and adjusted along the length of the same,

andmeans to engage said element and stop the movement of the container without stopping the carrier, to thereby detach the container from the carrier.

6. In a conveyer, the combination of a traveling carrier, a container having an arm provided with means for detachably suspending the container from the carrier, said arm being substantially T-shaped in cross section and provided with an element comprising a pair of jointed jaws, having aspring to cause them to grasp the body and head of the arm and projecting finger grips operable to permit the jaws to be released from the arm aiid the element to be.

adjusted longitudinally otthc latter, and means to engage said element and stop the movement of the container without stopping the carrier, to thereby detach the container from the carrier. j

l 7. In a conveyor. suitably supported stops extending toward each otherwith a space between their confronting ends, combined with a traveling carrier, a container having anarm adapted to enter said space, said arm and carrier being provided with cooperating elements by which the container is suspended from the carrier, said elements being provided with means for detachably susa pending the container from the carrier, said armbeing substantially T-shaped in cross section and provided with an element comprisin a pair of jointed jaws having means where ythey grasp the body and head of the arm and may be released from the arm and adjusted along the length of the same, said element also having lateral projections,

and a pair of spaced stops relatively arranged to permit the arm to pass between them and to engage the lateral projections of the element when the latter has been adjusted to be engaged by the stops, to thereby detach the container from the carrier.

9. In a conveyer, a traveling carrier, [a container'having an arm, means comprising elements on said arm and carrier for suspending the container froni the carrier, said elements being constructed to be freely released from each other by stopping the container and allowing the carrier to proceed, to thereby detach the container fromthe carrier, and cooperating stops for stopping the movement of the container, one of said stops being carried by the arm and comprising com plementary pivotally-connected spring pressed jaws by which it is adjustably clamped on the arm. 7

10. In; combination, a plurality of traveling carr ers each having a depending hook, a plurality of containers each having a hook to engage a hook of a carrier, said hooks being arranged with their transverse dimensions in the direction of the travel of the carriers and containers, and relatively adjustable elements cooperating to disengage the hooks of the containers from the hooks of the carriers, selectively, at predetermined places in the travel thereof. I

11. In combination, a traveling carrier, having 'a'depending hook, a container having at one end a member comprising an ap proximately vertical arm and an approximately horizontal arm extending back from the upper end of the vertical arm. and arranged over the container, said approximately horizontal arm having at its free end a hook to engage the hook of the carrier. said hooks having their transverse dimensions in the direction of travel of the carrier and container, whereby the container may be detached from the carrier when its movement is obstructed.

12. In combination, a traveling carrier.- I

ing at one end a member comprising an approximately vertical arm and an approximately horizontal arm extending back from the upper end of the vertical arm and arranged over the container, said approximately horizontal arm having at its free end a hook to engage the hook of the carrier, said hooks having their transverse dimensions in the direction of travel of the carrier and container, a stop adjustably mounted on the approximately vertical section of the arm and a stop to engage the first mentioned stop and thereby detach the container from the carrier.

13. In combination, an elevatedtrack, a support for the track, having a member projecting below the track, and provided at its free end with a lateral extension, a carrier having a depending hook, means for imparting movement to the carrier along the track, and a container having a hook to engage the hook of the carrier, said hooks having their transverse dimensions in the direction of the travel of the carrier and container, the container also having an element to engage said lateral extension to thereby obstruct the motion. of the container and detach its hook from the hook of the carrier.

14. In combination, an elevated track, a carrier having wheels to engage the track and provided with a portion which projects below the track and is provided with a hook, an endless cable engaging the latter portion of the carrier for imparting continuous movement to the same along the track, a container having a hook by which it is suspended from th'e hook on the carrier, and cooperating elements, one of whichtravels with the container for stopping the motion of the container at a predetermined place to thereby disengage it from the carrier.

15. In a conveyer, the combination of a traveling carrier, a container, means for detachably suspending the container from the carrier, means for automatically detaching the container from the carrier at a receiving station, and a gravity conveyer at said station to receive the container thus detached, said gravity conveyer having its receiving end provided with !means which {project above the bottoms of the containers and assure the settling of detached containers properly upon the bed of the conveyer.

16. In a conveyer, the combination of a traveling carrier, a container, means for detachably suspending the container from the carrier, a receiving station, and means for automatically detaching the container from the carrier at the receiving station, said receiving station including a downwardl inclined bed which is arranged below t e lower surface of the container to receive and su port the container thusde; tached from t e carrierand to cause the container to travel by gravity thereover, and

inclined bed at the receivin latter, means for automatica ly detaching also including a means extending longitudinally of the bed to assure the settling of the above the plane of the bottom of the container when the latter is suspended from the carrier.

17 In a conveyer, the combination of a traveling carrier, a container, means for detachably suspending the container from the carrier, means for automatically detaching the container from the carrier at a receivin station, and a gravity conveyer \vhoseen forms said station, said gravity conveyer having a downwardly inclined bed arranged to be below the lower surface of the container at the receiving station and extending thence at an angle to the course of travel of the container approaching said station, and also having its receiving end provided at opposite sides with guards whose upper surfaces at one end only are above the plane of the bottom of the container when the latter is suspended from the carrier, said guards assuring the settling of the container upon the bed at the receiving sta-' tion when the container has been detached from the carrier.

18. A conveyer comprising, in combination, an elevated track, a carrier to traverse said track, a conveying member having a downwardly inclined bed formed of freely rotatable rollers, the latter conveying memher being in a lower plane than the track and having its receiving end beneath the track, a container, -means for detachably suspending the container from the carrier,

the parts ing so correlated that the lower surface of the suspended container will be immediately above the downwardly inclined bed at the receiving end of the latter, means for automatically detaching the container from the carrier at the receiving end of said bed, and means for assuring the settling of the container properly upon the bed when thus detached.

19. A conveyer comprising, in combination, an elevated track, a carrier to traverse said track, a conveying member having a downwardly inclined bed formed of freely rotatable rollers, the latter conveying member bein in a lower plane than the track and having its receiving end beneath. the track, and thence extending at an angle to the tracks, a container, means {or detachably suspending the container from the car-v rier, the parts being so correlated that the lower surface of the suspended container will be immediately above the downwardly end of the the container from the carrier at the receiving end of said bed, and means at the receiving end of the latter to assure the settling of the container properly upon the bed when the container has been thus detached,'having a portion of its length below the plane of the bottom of the suspended tion, an'elevated track, a carrier to traverse sa1d track, a conveying member havlng a downwardly inclined bed formed of freely rotatable rollers, the latter conveying member being in a lower plane than the track and having its receiving end beneath'the track, and thence extending at an angle to the tracks, a container, means for detachably suspending the sustainer from the carrier, the parts being so correlated that the lower surface of the suspended container will be immediately above the downwardly inclined. bed at the receiving end'of the latter, means for automatically detaching the container from the carrier at the receiving end of said bed, and guards at opposite sides of the bed and extending longitudinally thereof, said guards extending diagonally toward each other to form a gradually con structing mouth and each having one of its ends only in a plane higher than that of the bottom of the container.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

MORRIS U. BERNHEIM. 

